Real Reality

There is a new reality show on TV. Basically it’s a lie detector test where the contestant is asked deep personal questions about family and friends, some of whom are on the show along with them. If the participant gets the questions right, she gets money.

What’s sad about the show is the obvious lack of concern for the feelings of the person the question is posed about. Questions like, “Did you ever have seconds thoughts about marrying your husband?” when the husband is sitting there, or “Did you go out with your best friend’s boyfriend?” when the friend is listening, are some of the tamer queries.

Are people so shallow and callous that they don’t care if they hurt another in order to
win? What about the relationships that are damaged because of the truth? Yes, the show is about being honest, but this brutal honesty is about hurting others in order to satisfy greed. There are more tactful ways to dispense the truth, but the producers are most likely looking for the shock factor of it all.

One lesson we can all learn from such a program is that it is better not to have engaged in this improper behavior to begin with. If these discretions had not been committed, then this show would not exist. But righteous living doesn’t sell a show; there is no profit in the commercial world for godly conduct.

In God’s view, however, we need to live Holy for He is Holy. As believers we need to keep our commitments to our spouses, we need to respect one another in word and deed, we need to refrain from seeking after what is not our own, and we need to love one another. This is the true reality show, because one day we will have to stand before God and answer for what we have done in and with our lives.

Be a living model to others. For as Christians, our name says it all: we are to be Christ-like.